Affordable Care Act (ACA)

We have received several inquires about the recent articles purporting the availability of $1 abortions in “Obamacare.” The contents of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been particularly misconstrued, and polls have indicated that a majority of Americans do not know or understand what is actually in the ACA.

The Supreme Court determined the legality of the bill itself. It is important to look at the facts and not listen to the rhetoric. One thing is for sure. As pro-life Democrats, under the leadership of Congressman Bart Stupak, we worked very hard to include clear and concise language that will not allow Federal funds to be used for abortion.

Abortions will not be available for $1 under the new law. The fact check web site Poltifact.com challenged the notion of the $1 abortion and found that the news articles were false. (The most outrageous suggestion in the recent articles is that the law has made abortions available for $1; Politifact found that “ridiculously inaccurate.”)

Under the law, no private insurer will be required to include abortion coverage except for the common exceptions under the Hyde Amendment. The provision that is under scrutiny only applies to plans within the state exchanges. It does not apply to private health plans.

Under the law, abortion cannot be included as an essential benefit.[1]

The effect of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on abortion has been the subject of much controversy, and pro-life members of Congress who voted for PPACA have received strong criticism as well as strong praise. This memorandum has three purposes. First, it provides a brief reminder that PPACA contains many provisions reflecting pro-life values and having pro-life effects. Second, it assesses the two major criticisms of PPACA concerning abortion raised by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Although the USCCB has been the most detailed and thoughtful critic of the statute on abortion-related matters, this memorandum concludes that there are convincing answers to the USCCB

Our Mission Statement

Democrats For Life of America advocates and supports programs and policies that respect and promote life from conception to natural death. This includes, but is not limited to, opposition to abortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia. Learn more...